SCOUTING IS YOUTH MINISTRY IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
The complex world of the 20th century, with its emphasis on instant
answers and high technology, has had a devastating effect on our young
people. Working mothers, single-parent families, and the difficulties
of maintaining family life all add to the problem. The suicide rate among
teenagers is the highest of any age group, and you will find drugs and
alcohol prevalent even among preteens. It is no wonder that young people
wander about in search of something to hang on to, someone to trust and
in whom to confide. They have difficulty finding God, because there is
no one to show them the way.
How significant it is, therefore, that the latest revisions of the Boy
Scout Handbook have restored the emphasis on duty to God in its pages.
For, while the charter of the Boy Scouts of America has always had a religious
principle, it was not always obvious to the individual youth in the unit.
In recent years, as the Catholic Church developed its apostolate to youth
more fully, it became known as youth ministry. Scouting is a significant
part of this ministry.
There is one particular aspect of Scouting that deserves special attention
today, that is, Scouting has a tremendous potential for developing Christian
leadership.
Many of our youth today are struggling with an identity crisis and problems
that growing up in these times often creates. Boys involved in the Scouting
experience have a real advantage in coming to know themselves and attaining
skills that will give direction to their lives.
Training, challenging, and supporting young men to develop responsibility,
maturity, and leadership are constant elements of the BSA.
The Catholic Church is fortunate to have in the Scouting movement so apt
a vehicle for Christian development. Scouting is vital in today's world
as a unique opportunity for young people to grow in faith, life, and leadership.
The Boy Scouts of America has consistently stressed the necessity of the
spiritual life for youth and the importance of dependence on God.
Though programs have come and gone as the Boy Scouts of America has responded
to changing times, the recognition of this spiritual principle has remained
constant.
On October 10, 1985, the national Executive Board of the Boy Scouts of
America passed a resolution reaffirming the Scout Oath and the Scout Law
as important precepts of Scouting. The resolution is consistent with the
original principles of the BSA when it was founded in 1910. The Religious
Relationships Committee, whose members represent all the major religions
that are affiliated with the BSA, endorsed the resolution.
The BSA passed this resolution to reaffirm its commitment of "Duty
to God."
The twelfth point of the Scout Law says: "A Scout is reverent."
More than half a century ago, the Boy Scouts of America and the Catholic
Church drew up a plan of cooperation, which is still working well. The
Church recognized Scouting as a program that provides rich, educational
experiences and essential character enrichment. At the same time, the
Boy Scouts of America realized that its vision demanded strong spiritual
support, and the Church is the provider of this support.
Youth ministry today demands a total commitment to youth, a commitment
that must be totally Christ leading. Scouting, with its many programs
and activities, can bring a Scout to a greater knowledge of God through
nature and comradeship.
With the addition of a spiritual emphasis such as that provided by the
Catholic Committee on Scouting on a local, diocesan, and national level,
the local Scouting unit can have a program that will lead young people
to Christ.
Scouting is basically an educational program and thus it is just as important
to train leaders to work with youth as it is to train youth. Scouting
under Catholic auspices must train youth to be good citizens and good
Catholics (or members of whatever faith to which our Scouts belong). Adult
leaders must be trained to do the job well.
To meet this need, the National Catholic Committee on Scouting developed
the Scouter development program several years ago to help our adult leaders
relate their Christianity to Scouting. To do the job effectively, our
leaders must know what is expected of them, and so Scouter development
trains them in the basic philosophy of youth ministry, with particular
attention to the religious, vocational, and educational aspects. At the
same time the spirituality of participants in the Scouter development
program is given an opportunity to grow and develop.
A variety of programs exist to underline the importance of religion in
Scouting. Through the Catholic Committee on Scouting, there are opportunities
for weekend retreats for Boy Scouts and Varsity Scouts, days of spiritual
activity for Cub Scouts, and special activities for Venturers. Religion
and Scouting must relate to each other. They cannot be put into separate
categories Scouting for weekdays, religion for Sundays. Today's young
people can perceive falsity easily. They seek God and want to find Him
not just on Sundays, but every day. And what a Scout learns in the troop
program cannot contradict the principles of his faith. To teach him how
to build a fire is of no value if he uses that skill to burn down other
people's property.
Through the Religious Emblems program of the Catholic Committee on Scouting,
a boy can learn how to put his faith and his Scouting together in an integrated
learning experience. By working on the religious emblem for his age, a
boy reinforces what he learns in the parish religious education program.
This can lead to his selection of a religious vocation.
Finally, but by no means least in importance, the principles of the Oath
and Law should be explained both from a Scouting point of view and from
a religious point of view. If a boy does not live up to one of these points,
it is the duty of the leader to point out the religious failing as well
as the Scouting deficiencies.
The practical expression of Christianity is seen in the Scout slogan,
"Do a Good Turn Daily." This should be stressed frequently so
that boys do not lose perspective in what they are doing.
The Scouting apostolate is truly a most important aspect of youth ministry
in our Church.
The Scout Oath and Law teaches a boy respect for authority, develops an
attitude of service, and encourages the Christian way of life.
It is strongly recommended that:
- At a boy's Tenderfoot investiture ceremony he is given a copy of this interpretation of the Scout Oath and Law.
- At some time during his first 6 months in Scouting, he discusses with his parents the meaning and obligations of the Scout Oath and Law.
- Provisions are made during Scout Sunday observance for all members of the unit to rededicate themselves to the precepts of the Scout Oath and Law.
- At least once a year, each unit leader or Scout chaplain discusses with his unit the meaning and obligations of the Scout Oath and Law.
- During Scout Retreats and Days of Recollection, each member of the unit is provided an opportunity to "check his course:' to determine just how well he is living up to these precepts.
THE SCOUT OATH
"On my honor I will do my best": Our honor
is a quality we possess because of our dignity as human beings and children
of God. Our "best" means to give all we have. It means to keep
striving to do what we know is right, and in the Oath it means we will
try to be good Scouts by fulfilling our Scout duties as expressed in the
Scout Law.
"To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout
Law": Our duty to God and country means chiefly two things:
obedience and loyalty. The duties we owe to the church, to our country,
to parents; to one another, and to ourselves come from some command of
God. The Scout Law sums up all the qualities a Scout should have and without
which he cannot be a good Scout.
"To help other people at all times": Our Lord
told us that love of our neighbor was like the first law of love of God.
Early Christians were known by the love they had for one another. Real
Christian charity or love prompts us to want to help others at all times.
Our Scouting training will give us skills and knowledge that will put
us in a better position to do this.
"To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally
straight": Scouting offers us many opportunities to grow
strong physically. To be alert and ready requires us to give special care
to those two gifts of soul – intellect and will – that make
us like unto God. "Morally straight" means we must try to know
what is right and true, to love what is good, and to choose it.
THE SCOUT LAW
The Scout Law is really a definition of a Scout. Wearing the uniform
alone does not make a Scout. In fact, the boy who keeps the Scout Law,
even if he has no uniform, is the real Scout far more than one who wears
the uniform but does not keep the Law. This is the Scout Law you promise
to obey in the Scout Oath:
A Scout is trustworthy: Character is what a man is. Reputation
is what people think about him. A youth of character is worthy of trust.
No one is worthy of trust who does not recognize his dignity and the dignity
of all men as children of God.
A Scout is loyal: Because our first loyalty is to God,
a Scout is loyal to all to whom loyalty is due his parents, his church,
and his country.
A Scout is helpful: Christ has told us that the good
turns we do for others will be considered as done to him. The reason we
are helpful is that we see Christ in everybody. If our Lord was willing
to die for everybody, a Scout certainly should be ready to render help.
The whole Scout program gives us an opportunity to be helpful.
A Scout is friendly: The basis and motive of this point
of the Law is Christian charity. We are all children of the same father,
and brothers of Jesus Christ. Recognizing this, a Scout should be a friend
to all, and a brother to every other Scout.
A Scout is courteous: A Scout should respect the image
of God in everyone. The meaning of love as a Scout should be taken from
the words of Christ himself: "I have come not to be served, but to
serve."
A Scout is kind: This point of the Law refers mostly
to animals. They exist for our use. They have life and feeling, and God
has given them to us as a trust. As such, we must use them well, never
abusing or mistreating them.
A Scout is obedient: Jesus Christ gave us an example
of perfect obedience throughout his life. This will be a difficult point
of the Law for a Scout to keep because it will mean discipline and giving
up his own will at times. He should obey, not because the command pleases
him, but because the one giving it has the right to do so, is someone
in authority, and is right in doing so. Disobedience brought death and
sin into the world. Obedience brought our salvation. Real victory comes
from obedience first to God and then to all he has placed in authority
as long as they deserve our obedience.
A Scout is cheerful: Joy should be one of the marks of
a child of God. A Scout will have joy in his heart and manifest it outwardly
by his cheerful manner.
A Scout is thrifty: Thrift teaches self-respect, making
us unwilling to be a burden to others. Far from being a burden, we are
able by thrift to help them. A Scout is deeply concerned with preserving
our natural resources.
A Scout is brave: He can face danger even if he is afraid.
He has courage to stand for what he thinks is right even if others scorn
him.
A Scout is clean: He keeps clean in body and thought;
stands for clean speech, clean sport, clean habits; and travels with a
clean crowd.
A Scout is reverent: He is reverent toward God. He is
faithful in his religious duties and respects the convictions of others
in matters of custom and religion.
RELIGIOUS EMBLEMS FOR CATHOLICS
For Cub Scouts: Parvuli Dei
A home centered program to help the Cub Scout learn about his faith through
visits to places of interest.
For Boy Scouts and Varsity Scouts: Ad Altare Dei
A scripture study and project centered program based on the sacraments
to relate the boy's Scouting life to his religious life.
For Boy Scouts, Eastern Catholic Churches: Light Is Life
Program based on the "God With Us" series of the Eastern Christian
Formation Program to prepare a Scout to be an active member of his faith
community.
For Older Scouts and Venturers: PIUS XII
A program to help the teenager learn more about his/her personal vocation
as a Christian now and his/her career vocation later.
SPECIAL UNIT RECOGNITION
POPE PAUL VI National Unit Recognition:
An annual presentation to units under Catholic auspices that carry out
a high quality Catholic oriented program.
Requirements include:
- Scouter development training
- Participation in a religious formation activity (retreat, day of recollection, etc.)
- Religious emblems participation
- Good turns to the parish and community
- Planning for increased membership
- Rededication and explanation to the principles of the Oath and Law
REFERENCES
- Scouter Development: Lay Apostolate Formation, No. 16-147
- Pope Paul VI National Unit Recognition, No. 16-169
- Religious Emblems for Catholics, No. 16-436
- A Scout is Reverent, BSA No. 33075
July 3 2007
